Brighton Dome’s festive events programme brings seasonal joy to all three of its venues this year, with a Blizzard-themed circus show (27-31 Dec), Musicals Mayhem from acclaimed drag artist and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat (18-24 Dec) and family theatre in A Town Called Christmas (27-31 Dec). Parties for all ages include the return of the Christmas Ceilidh to Brighton Dome Corn Exchange (13 Dec) and Christmas karaoke in ORGANOKE with musical accompaniment from Brighton Dome’s famous organ (19 Dec).
Canadian circus troupe FLIP Fabrique take to Brighton Dome’s Concert Hall stage between 27-31 December, for Blizzard: an acrobatic journey into the dead of winter that will create visual poetry and moments of wonder for audiences of all ages. Across the same dates in the Studio Theatre, ages 3 and up and their grown-ups are invited to a place where gingerbread houses used to glow under twinkling fairy-lights and coins were made of chocolate. A Town Called Christmas is a theatrical rollercoaster of magic, music and mayhem as hero Clementine aims to save the day – and the crumbling town.
Throughout December there are parties suitable for officemates, friends and families. In London sell-out show Musicals Mayhem (18-24 December), cabaret, opera and drag star Le Gateau Chocolat hosts an evening of high kicks, high drag and high glamour. With a musicals memory as deep as his booming bass vocals, expect a feel-good night of songs across the musicals spectrum: Sound of Music to The Snowman, Follies to Frozen and Cabaret to Cats.
Once a staple of Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange events programme, for the first time since the venue’s refurbishment the Christmas Ceilidh (13 Dec) returns this year, with music from vibrant six-piece band the Sussex Pistols and their resident caller to teach the whole family the moves. For adults, ORGANOKE (19 Dec) is a night of Christmas karaoke accompanied by Brighton Dome’s legendary organ and hosted by another Brighton legend, rapping pensioner Ida Barr. Disabled + Disobedient: Vitamin D+D (7 December) is a warming winter offering of performances, games and a space for disabled and neurodivergent people and their allies to connect, while Blue Camel Club, the biggest learning disability club night on the south coast, hosts a pantomime-themed party for ages 14 and up on 10 December.
Brighton’s Big Drag Pageant: The Snow Ball (12 December) presents the biggest, campest and most glamorous drag event of the year. Hosted by award-winning drag artist Alfie Ordinary, it brings together an all-star cast of drag acts to perform and compete live for their chance to take home the crown. Expect high flying, jaw dropping performances, faux fur, ice queens and snow kings at this radical, inclusive and extraordinary winter spectacular. To celebrate New Years Eve, queer dance party legends Gal Pals and Polyglamorous join forces to host the ultimate queer club night in the Corn Exchange. Our Roots: Opulence is a space to dress up, feel free and dance all night to pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, house and queer bangers.
For comedy fans, a special festive edition of Live at Brighton Dome, the venue’s flagship comedy showcase, takes place on 20 December. Live at Christmas is headlined by Taskmaster champion and surrealist genius Sam Campbell, hosted by Brighton’s own Maisie Adam and includes sets from Simon Amstell, Lou Sanders and Funny Women Stage Award Finalist Sharon Wanjohi. On 7 December, Suzi Ruffell and Tom Allen bring their hit podcast Like Minded Friends to the Corn Exchange for some festive frolics.
Elsewhere for families, there is a series of Christmas crafting sessions for children aged 3 and up and their parents or carers across December. All materials are provided for children and grownups to create either a snowy scene or a festive shadow lantern together in an hour-long workshop. On 21 December, classic Christmas film The Snowman will be played on the big screen in the Concert Hall, accompanied live by musicians from Covent Garden Sinfonia who will also perform spellbinding music by Harry Potter composer John Williams.
Christmas concerts include a programme of Ukrainian carols and the Nutcracker Suite from Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra (7 Dec), the Big Christmas Singalong from Choir with No Name (11 Dec) and Brighton Festival Chorus’s annual performance with Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (14 Dec). Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus’s Beauty & The Bear is the choir’s unique twist on pantomime on 13 December; two of international cabaret’s grandest dames, Barb Jungr and Fascinating Aida’s Dillie Keane, perform on 14 December and Kate Rusby brings South Yorkshire’s rich Christmas traditions to Brighton on 16 December. The festive season kicks off on 30 November with Rob Brydon & His Fabulous Band: A Festive Night of Songs & Laughter and Brighton Etsy bring their annual Christmas Fair to the Concert Hall Foyer on 6 December.
There are group discounts and family tickets available for select events and performances. For more information and to book, visit brightondome.org
Musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s beloved tale A Squash and A Squeeze comes to life on stage this half-term at Brighton Dome
A new stage adaptation of A Squash and a Squeeze by beloved author of The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, comes to the beautifully…
Bond Actor Rory Kinnear to appear in groundbreaking play An Oak Tree at Brighton Dome later this month
Brighton Dome has announced that award-winning British actor Rory Kinnear will appear, for one night only in Tim Crouch’s legendary play An Oak Tree when…
Brighton Roots, Global Stages, and Community Stories: Theatre Comes Home to Brighton Dome this Autumn
This autumn, Brighton Dome celebrates theatre inspired by community and rooted in the city’s own stories alongside world-class performances and fresh…